In terms of movie studios, nobody could ever claim that Disney was underrated. However, within the realm of their own films, there are a few that somehow managed to slightly slip through the net. We’ll all have a favourite Disney film from when we were growing up. Many of us fondly remember The Lion King, Bambi and The Little Mermaid, but how many of us remember some of Disney’s live-action films, or the hand-drawn ones that didn’t have quite such an infuriatingly catchy soundtrack? We’ve dived deep into the public’s memories and come up with a small selection of Disney films that might just deserve your attention.
The Aristocats (1970)
Many people would claim that The Aristocats is one of Disney’s biggest hitters, but in terms of royalties, box office success and how many people rank it in their top 10, it’s far from it. We think it’s a travesty that such a heartening tale with a truly incredible soundtrack isn’t getting the love it deserves, so we’re here to set the record straight. For anyone that’s yet to see it, The Aristocats tells the story of Duchess, a pampered Parisian pussycat and her three kittens. On their adventures, they bump into Thomas O’Malley, a charming stray tomcat, who initially appears a little rough around the edges, but has a heart of gold. Duchess and Thomas quickly form a close friendship and make ideal role models for the three little kittens. Their adventures will leave you with your heart in your mouth at times, but the rollicking jazz inspired soundtrack brings the feel good element that Disney fans love. A true classic.
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
Whilst Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has starred in more than a handful of Disney films, we bet you didn’t know about this one. The Race to Witch Mountain sees Johnson play a cab driver, the unlikely protagonist in this out-of-this-world tale. The premise is, that Johnson is the cab driver who is chosen by a couple of aliens. They hire him to get them to a specified spot in time for them to catch their spaceship home. What ensues is at times quite a touching, but mostly hysterically funny film with more than its fair share of endlessly quotable lines.
There are plenty of unforgettable scenes in this movie, but the one that takes the cake is the casino scene. Having driven the aliens to a mountain near Las Vegas, it should’ve been obvious that the crew would end up in a casino. Whilst fleeing from the agents, Sara uses her powers to make all of the slot machines in the building show a winning combination. This creates mass hysteria in the players, allowing Sara, Seth and Bruno to all escape the casino undetected. Whilst you might not have quite the same instant and magical success as the players in the Race to Witch Mountain casino did that night, if this scene has inspired you to play some casino games then why not find one with a good bonus instead? It probably won’t give you alien mind powers that can alter slot machine settings, but you could end up with a boost to your deposit, or a chunk of free spins to use. VegasSlotsOnline provides a comprehensive guide to online casinos, paying particular attention to those with generous bonuses and a wide variety of games. Plus, if you’d rather just play for free then they also offer an enormous selection of free-to-play slots too.
Doctor Strange (2016)
What with the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that we at Noho Arts District wrote about this year, there was a predecessor that kind of fell by the wayside. Disney’s original Doctor Strange film was a brilliant example of just how great a Marvel and Disney crossover can be when it’s done well. The story centres around Dr Stephen Strange, who is played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Dr Strange suffers a life-changing car accident, that leaves him unable to use his hands. In a desperate search for healing, he tries traditional medicines to no avail, before stumbling across a dark and foreboding enclave. It is here that he first becomes aware of a battle against dark forces, a battle which he knows he can help to win. Benedict Cumberbatch is absolutely perfect for the role of this powerful magician and he plays it so effortlessly that it seems totally real. Whilst the sequel may have just been released, try to save your enthusiasm for long enough to watch this film first.